26 June 2023 , 16:05
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Murder suspect Matthew White threatened to make a black shop worker the next 'Stephen Lawrence' in an attack.
Metropolitan Police confirmed that Matthew White, who died in 2021 at the age of 50, was a major suspect at the time following the killing in Eltham, south east London in April 1993.
The year before his death, White pleaded guilty to an attack on a black shop worker just a few hundred metres from where Stephen was stabbed to death.
According to the victim, White repeatedly mentioned the murder case as he carried out the assault, saying White said he would be "Stephen Lawrenced", reports the BBC.
Stephen, was 18 when he was killed at a bus stop while trying to go home with friend Duwayne Brooks, who said six assailants surrounded Stephen and stabbed him repeatedly before running off.
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Stephen, was 18 when he was killed at a bus stop (PA)
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Matthew White, who died in 2015 at the age of 50, was a major suspect at the time (BBC)Stephen's injuries were so catastrophic that he died before making it to the hospital 20 minutes after the attack. Only five men were ever formally identified in connection with the attack.
The force made the unusual admission about White on Monday after theBBCidentified that key inquiries had been mishandled in the force's initial 1990s investigation.
While five prime suspects were identified in the aftermath, a later public inquiry found there had likely been as many as six attackers based on eyewitness testimony.
Failures during the investigation into White reportedly included officers entering the wrong information about him into a police database when a relative came forward, and the Met not following up a lead when another force recommended that his role in the murder was established.
A memorial plaque dedicated to Stephen Lawrence near the scene of his murder (Getty Images)Both White's relative and another witness also told police that he himself had admitted to taking part in the killing. Police surveillance photos taken of White meanwhile resembled a fair-haired attacker described at the scene by witnesses.
The year before White died, the BBC reports he pleaded guilty to an attack on a black shop worker near the site of Lawrence's murder.
Responding to the new claims, the Metropolitan Police said Matthew White first came to their attention as a witness in 1993, and was arrested and interviewed on two occasions in March 2000 and in December 2013.
Files were submitted to prosecutors on two occasions in May 2005 and October 2014, but on both occasions the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) advised there was no realistic prospect of conviction of White for any offence.
Artist’s impression of Stephen Lawrence suspect MatthewDeputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward said: “The impact of the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence and attack on Duwayne Brooks, and subsequent inquiries, continues to be felt throughout policing.
“Unfortunately, too many mistakes were made in the initial investigation and the impact of them continues to be seen.
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“On the 30th anniversary of Stephen’s murder, Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley apologised for our failings and I repeat that apology today.”
David Norris (PA)
Gary Dobson (AFP/Getty Images)Only David Norris and Gary Dobson, now 46, were ever convicted of the Stephen Lawrence murder 19 years after his death.
Brothers Jamie and Neil Acourt and Luke Knight were also named publicly as suspects in the killing but have never been convicted of his murder.